Trichambaram Temple, also known as North Guruvayur, is an ancient Krishna temple located at Taliparamba, Kannur, Kerala. The Sanctum has sculptures and murals that have been dated to the 15th century or earlier. Tradition has it that the temple is associated with Maharishi Shambara. The main deity here is Sri Krishna (Sri Vishnu), in a Raudra posture, immediately after Kamsa Vadham.
A few particular customs are observed here to reinforce this connection. The first is the practice of offering naiveyam before pooja. It is rare that naivedyam is offered to the deity immediately after the sanctuary opens early in the morning, before any pooja. The belief is that Lord Krishna, exhausted after his fight with Kamsa, approached his mother Devaki to ask for food, and the ritual of naivedyam first and then poojas took root from this.
The second practice is also unique. As we all know, elephants are an integral part of temple rituals all over Kerala. But in Trichambaram, it is forbidden to take elephants anywhere near the temple. Lore recounts how the royal elephant of Kansas charged Sri Krishna and Balarama as they entered the palace of Kansa, intending to defeat him, and since then the Lord has had a strong aversion to elephants. To this day, this ban has been observed.
Trichambaram Krishna Temple Timings:
Morning: 5.00 AM to 12.00 Noon
Evening: 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Trichambaram Krishna Temple History:
According to legend, the place was a large forest, called Sambaravanam or Sambara forest. Sambara Maharshi had been practicing tapas for several years while worshiping Sri Vishnu, he achieved oneness with God. From then on, people felt the divine presence here and their devotion and faith gradually shaped a temple. It is not known whether the Trichambaram temple originated in Dwaparayuga or Kaliyuga. There is a general belief that this temple of Vishnu was built shortly after the temple of Siva in Taliparamba to moderate the ferocity of Siva.
Trichambaram Krishna Temple Festivals:
The annual festival of the temple falls in the Malayalam months of Kumbham and Meenam (March) and it lasts for fourteen days. The festival begins, on Kumbham 22nd with the ceremonial flag hoisting (kodiyettam) and comes to end with Koodipirial ritual on 6th Meenam. The festival days are marked by the performance of the ritual art of Thidampu nritham in front of the temple.
h3>How to Reach Trichambaram Krishna Temple:
By Air: The nearest airport is at Calicut which is 121 km to the temple.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Taliparamba is Kozhikode (Calicut) (CLT) which is at a distance of 100 km.
Trichambaram Krishna Temple Address:
Trichambaram Temple Road,
Trichambaram,
Taliparamba,
Kannur,
Kerala – 670141.